World Superbike: Spies heads American challenge

World Superbike Press Release

America has provided more World Superbike Champions than any other country, five in total, and Ben Spies is the latest American rider with the title in his sights.

So remarkable has been his first season in WSB that in one way he is already leading all of his fellow countrymen - the ratio of races competed in compared to race wins. So far nine riders from America have won full WSB races - Colin Edwards (31 race wins), Doug Polen (27), Scott Russell (14), John Kocinski (14), Spies (11), Fred Merkel (8), Ben Bostrom (7), Doug Chandler (2) and Tom Kipp (1).

In 2009, after only ten WSB rounds, Spies has ridden in 20 individual career WSB races, but has won 11 of them. That gives him a winning average of 55%. The next best American in those terms is Polen (33.75% - 27 races from 80 starts) then John Kocinski (29.16% - 14 wins from 48 starts).

The winningest American rider ever, Colin Edwards, with 31 race wins, is only fourth in the wins to races started ratio, 17.71% of the 175 races he started.